Road bike recommendations

Given your pool playing housemates, I'd go for titanium for the simple reason that it'll cope with being manhandled and doesn't have any paint to damage. I've a titanium frame I bought in 1999 that has travelled around Europe and been moved around a lot and the frame is as pristine as when I bought it.

Think I'll keep this one on a wall mount in my bedroom anyway. Already have 3 bikes in the room!

We're moving soon hopefully too.. I'm hoping to somewhere with a garage.

Cannondale Synapse Apex £1700, sportive specific geometry and groupset, cheap RS10 wheels so you can forget that it was supposed to be under £2k complete and upgrade to RS80s next year :-)

actually my budget was £1500 ish, but 1700 I could maybe stretch to. 105 for 100 quid more or Apex though....

good carbon on a budget look at canyon

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/

+1

105 for 100 quid more or Apex though....

I'd pay more for Apex than 105, but I've already 'made the leap'

The Focus Cayo isn't quite the bargain it was (mine has a full Ultegra groupset whereas this year it has an FSA chainset and brakes) but it's still really good value, especially if you or someone you know has a platinum Wiggle discount:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/focus-cayo-20-ultegra-compact-2011/

Throw a £325 set of RS80s on and that's a really decent road bike for the money IMO. /mytuppence

I have a 2009 Ultegra Cayo and find it a great ride. However, as suggested above, I think it's now more of a "good deal" than the outright bargain it used to be. Thought about swapping the stock Aksiums out for RS80's or even Dura-Ace 7850CL's but went for Pro-Lite Bracciano's in the end - a great wheel for the money and made a big improvement. Was also worried about it being on the aggressive side (I do distance rides and am in no way a racer), but have had no problems on longer rides - the compact bars are even comfy in the drops over distance. See them on eBay for under a grand - a steal at that price - and would leave plenty of $$$ to upgrade wheels, saddle etc?

I'd pay more for Apex than 105, but I've already 'made the leap'

?

Seriously though I'd be up for making the jump too as I don't have a real preference (Merckx running Ultegra/105 mix with tiagra shifters), I hate their mtb stuff but apparently the road stuff is ace. I guess it's just personal preference

Genesis Equilibrium

Yeah, admittedly I haven't done touring distances on mine. I've never found it uncomfortable but it is stiff.

I've taken mine ('10, 105) to Slovenia for a week but the longest day was ~140km. It'll be doing the 200k Dragon ride in June then a stack of climbing in July.

actually my budget was £1500 ish, but 1700 I could maybe stretch to. 105 for 100 quid more or Apex though....
That Apex 11-32t cassette is nutso.

I think Canyon just put their prices up 01/01/11 because there was a carbon frame with full Ultegra and Kysriumz for £1500 before Xmas

Second-hand Cervelo R3 frame. Build up the rest with what you have left.

60cm second-hand frames will be a bit cheaper than more normal sized second-hand frames. I saw a Cervelo R3 61cm go for about £600 on eBay.com. Sad I had no cash at the time.

Like.

That Apex 11-32t cassette is nutso.

But many people will be glad of it on the last climb of a 150km sportive.

Yup. It's great that you can now get that kind of range without kludging odd gear into a standard group.

But many people will be glad of it on the last climb of a 150km sportive.

raises hand

If the snobbery isn't there, Burls (russian made) do some nice Ti frames as well as home built steel. Another alternative is second hand Titanium. Around now i.e. post Christmas prices of ultra frames (IF, seven etc) should stay low.

Good luck!

Giant TCR! (2010, 105 groupset, £1500 @ wiggle)
look ugly I know, but ride superb and fit us smaller people well!

Anybody got an opinion on Ribble?

^This frame with 105 for £940. Considering something like it myself once I can finally afford a road bike.

Ribble are a 'stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap' predominantly mail order business so they are always very competitive on price. The drawback with this approach is that overheads need to be low so, in my experience, their staff aren't really well versed in customer service so if something goes wrong then you'll have no end of trouble trying to get it resolved.

Their bike frames are simply rebadged generic frames made in China and Taiwan with a limited range of sizes and geometries. There's nothing wrong with them, but you need to know a fair bit about sizing to get one that fits and the resale value, which may or may not be important, is low due to it being branded Ribble.

Plenty of good reviews on BikeRadar. Although as it is often bought as a first carbon bike, I'm not sure what the reviewers are comparing it to. Saying that the folks at Cycling plus themselves gave it a glowing review. Check for reviews for the pedalforce RS2 on US forums, as its the same frame.
http://pedalforce.com/online/product_info.php?products_id=8420

Thanks for the chat guys - particularly the sizing info andy.

Even their photographers are low rent from the looks of things - in that photo above the chain is mid derail from little ring to big!

I may still go for Ribble as they represent crazy value for money... and upgrade the frame in a couple of years time when I can afford it. The fact that you can fully tailor the set up of the bike at very little extra cost is appealing too.

I've never owned a modern road bike so I'm pretty sure that anything carbon/ti is going to feel space-age and amazing in comparison to 80's steel, quill stem and flexy cranks.

I'm going to see what scherrit and corinne say when I go to see them early February though— seems the most sensible solution. I don't mind sacrificing a bit on the components if its a frame I'll keep for a long time.

I may still go for Ribble as they represent crazy value for money... and upgrade the frame in a couple of years time when I can afford it. The fact that you can fully tailor the set up of the bike at very little extra cost is appealing too.

Being able to spec cheapo wheels to get the bike you want under budget, then buying some race/event wheels later is a massive bonus.

Most LBS's should do this too, as do Fudge. They'll even let you add a 11-32 cassette, with the rival grouppo on the recomendation below.

A bit off budget, but a lovely frameset, with rival groupset.
http://www.fudgescyclestore.com/index.php?p=116893

I'm going to see what scherrit and corinne say when I go to see them early February though— seems the most sensible solution. I don't mind sacrificing a bit on the components if its a frame I'll keep for a long time.

This is definitely the right chioce. I seem to remember reading, for example, that the ribble sportive had a funny fit, although a quick glance at the geo dosent reveal why. There are three frames on this thread alone that simply would'nt fit me, regardless of size.

Boardman? Wins every single review at this price point

the frames are shite.

^ Just out of curiosity, what specifically is shit about them?